HB 649 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SMALL BOAT HARBORS.

This bill updates rules for fees and permits related to state small boat harbors, affecting harbor operators and users. It revises existing provisions to clarify how charges are assessed and what documentation is required for permits. The changes take effect on July 1, 2030, and aim to streamline administrative processes for small boat harbor management. The legislation does not alter the fundamental structure of harbor operations but focuses on updating fee schedules and permit requirements.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 29, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB649_HD1 → HB649_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill shifts from establishing a specific special fund for commercial vessels to a broader management approach that allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to set flexible fees based on environmental impact and public access. It removes the requirement to deposit revenue into a special fund and eliminates the authorization for issuing general obligation bonds for harbor repairs. The bill also clarifies definitions regarding vessel ownership and commercial use permits to facilitate business entity transfers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a narrow focus on commercial vessel fees and a specific special fund to a comprehensive management framework covering all state small boat harbors, coastal areas, and ocean waters, with a stronger emphasis on environmental protection and public access.

FISCAL

Eliminated the creation of the 'Small Boat Harbor Commercial Vessel Special Fund' and the requirement to deposit commercial vessel fees into it.

Removed the authorization for the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds for capital improvement projects.

REQUIREMENT

Changed fee assessment criteria from a fixed percentage of gross revenue or per-passenger charge to a flexible model based on the activity's impact on natural resources and public access.

Introduced new permit requirements including a marine surveyor's inspection, proof of vessel ownership, and proof of age (18 years) for permit holders.

DEFINITION

Added detailed definitions for 'person,' 'owner,' 'controlled group,' and 'transfer' to clarify rules for business entity ownership and permit transfers.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific requirements for commercial permit renewal, including minimum revenue standards and a 60-day advance notice for renewal applications.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

May 1, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 172-26).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 172-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Moriwaki, Chang; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 9:00AM; CR 229.

upper

Apr 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-27-26 9:00AM; CR 229.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 569) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) DeCoite, Richards. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3360) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Lamosao ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye, Chang.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to WLA, WAM.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WTL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to WTL, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 265).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu, Souza voting no (7) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Morikawa, Templo; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Miyake, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 361) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Lamosao, Belatti, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Morikawa; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu, Souza; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to WAL, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors